inexpensive diamond ring?

Adamsk1

I'm about to pop the question to the love of my life and need to get an engagement ring. I live in the northwest, any suggestions as to where I can buy a get a quality ring at an affordable price?

newleaf

There was a thread about this recently with quite a few people recommending a website called diamond geezer or something similar, I'll see if I can find it and post a link. Congratulations by the way - she's bound to say yes - :beer:

Edit: Here you go http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=234657&highlight=diamondgeezer

paulow

Pollard's on Shude Hill in Manchester is very reasonable, it is a family run business, the service is excellent, it might be worth a look if you are in the area.

dazco

Buy off ebay. Someone with good feedback and pay extra for a diamond with a certificate

80934

dazco wrote:

Buy off ebay. Someone with good feedback and pay extra for a diamond with a certificate

I agree (choose your seller carefully - I prefer private sellers with good feedback rather than "shops") There is always some risk this way but.....

I bought an 18ct gold 0.75ct diamond solitaire for under £400 a while ago and had it cleaned, polished and valued at a local jewellers. The insurance valuation is £2,450 and I feel I got a real bargain. When cleaned and polished it looked new.

Good Luck

royalsteve

Adamsk1 wrote:

I'm about to pop the question to the love of my life and need to get an engagement ring. I live in the northwest, any suggestions as to where I can buy a get a quality ring at an affordable price?

always a problem in this country......checked the diamondgeezer, wow expensive.......

jewelery in this country is laughably overpriced...best to go to Hong Kong (though ive heard South Africa is cheap too but cant comment on that)...but be careful as plenty of rogue traders...easier for me as my wife's ancestry are from Hong Kong

if you are going to buy nice jewellery you are better off flying to Hong Kong and buying a decent ring there.....not as daft as it sounds.....bought my wife's engagement ring there whilst on holiday with her mum and brother, got a better design and saved thousands

You can easily pay TEN times the price for jewellery here as in HK....plus you have more choice

guess it depends how much you are willing to spend......always tricky!!

normal

Congratulations!

I found http://www.guardian.co.uk/consumer/story/0,,649273,00.html was very helpful reading before going out to the jewellers! Oh and don't forget to haggle! You can nearly always get AT LEAST 10-15% off from any independant jeweller.

chrisj2006

why not try Gems TV - they have lots of gems at really decent prices - sad I know watching this on sky but you can get a lot of unusual gemstones there as well

Lord_Gardener

Or try GOL:

http://www.geraldonline.com/products/static.html

Remember the three C's - you get what you pay for!

MissBehaving

royalsteve wrote:

...best to go to Hong Kong (though ive heard South Africa is cheap too but cant comment on that)...

Royalsteve, you are right. South African jewellery, especially diamonds, is certainly far superior than some (and i stress SOME) stuff bought here. You can get a lot more for your money out there. My engagement ring (from my ex-husband) would cost me about 3 times as much in the UK.
Trying to convince OH to buy me one when we go back to see the family.

On the ebay story - I have had a post on the boards asking for advice because we ordered from a 'ebay shop'. The ring that was posted, was NOT the exact one that we got. The diamond was shocking and I was absolutely devistated (spelling) when I saw it. The clarity was not the same as listed by any means!!

Sent it back for a refund.

Good luck with your proposal!!!
:beer:

Think4_CustService

I would recommend the diamond trade centre in Shudehill, Manchester:

http://www.thediamondtradecentre.com/

I got my wife's ring there after scouring the high street. Family run business, very friendly and knowledgeable staff. You'll get far more for your money than in any high street chain.